Style Spotlight: Elisa Nalin

You know the stereotype that fashion girls love black, don’t smile, and think fashion is très important and no laughing matter? Well Elisa Nalin has proven time and again that the above stereotype is also false. A lover of colour who is always ready to crack a smile for the camera, Nalin — a Paris-based stylist and style consultant — is the ultimate when it comes to fashion’s favorite street style darling.

Elisa seems to interpret every major trend with ease, so it’s no surprise that her talents are sought after by Dazed & Confused, La Perla, Le Bonmarché and numerous other industry heavyweights.

Elisa’s style aesthetic is evident from her list of favorite designers, which includes Dries van Noten, Pierre Hardy and Christian Louboutin. But don’t take our word for it. Everything you need to know about this Italy-born fashionista’s style can be found on today’s bevy of street style sites.

Colour blocking has been a constant presence in the trend world, popping up on nearly every runway for the last few seasons. And while it’s easy to appreciate this style from afar, tackling it yourself is another matter entirely.

But if you need inspiration, Elisa is clearly the person to go to. A pink blazer, green blouse, and skirt and shoes in opposing shades of blue bounce playfully off each other — and even Elisa’s clutch gets in on the color blocking fun.

A personal favorite is Elisa’s look from Paris Fashion Week, where she’s sporting a shocking red coat, yellow blouse, purple skirt and blouse, and maroon shoes. The primary colours in this ensemble never appear contrived, and only clash in the best of ways.

Elisa brings new life to the pleated skirt by introducing patterns and fancy footwear. A self professed shoe addict, her choice to pair bold colours, interesting silhouettes and fun straps in the shoe department with pleated skirts of all lengths and colors makes the look fresh and modern.

I particularly love the way Elisa throws a jacket with a leopard collar over a green sweater and bronze skirt, adding a modern touch to the animal print that is often in danger of becoming tired and redundant.

A striped sweater and boyfriend blazer each show how the pleated skirt can be dressed down or done up for a more fitted, professional feel. Of course, no matter how Elisa chooses to do pleats, the look is never without a strong sense of personality, which is what makes her style so addicting.

As a pants fanatic, I’m always excited to find someone who can do the wardrobe staple justice. Whether she chooses a bold colour, detail around the ankle, or the perfect shoe, Elisa knows how to make a pair of pants sing.

A patterned turquoise coat and turban completely change the character of an otherwise rather demure pair of green silk pants.

By throwing a light pink blazer over a pair of royal blue trousers, Elisa evokes a feminine quality in her outfit while staying true to decidedly masculine separates.

And of course, strategic bracelets and gorgeous clutches add dainty touches to looks that could otherwise seem formal and stiff.

Whether she’s rocking red and green while looking nothing like Santa or proving that tights and sandals are definitely still ‘a thing,’ these looks are our absolute favorites when it comes to this style star.

Multi-coloured stripes toned down with dark outerwear cease to appear clownish and instead become sartorial game-changers. Prints and primary colors meet to form ensembles that could easily become over the top, yet remain fashion thanks to tried and true silhouettes and accessories.

We’ll definitely be keeping our eyes on Elisa Nalin during the upcoming fashion month. We’re sure she has quite a few tricks left up her perfectly tailored sleeve.